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In A Drowned House

In a drowned house

water rushes through

the corners of seams

over pine floors,

soffits and studs,

stairs and rooftops

flood water rises as

cries drift upon night winds

flooding hope into turmoil

clawing the bank of deliverance

bayous border riddles of

the vanishing shoreline

flood gates set free

relics from the past

the sea’s undeniable gasp

the hard wash of the earth

Who can fell these tides of anguish?

Sorrowful waves crash

the broken dreams of

ancient mariners

no albatross flies here

tainted water

blood to loss

the endless gurgle

graves to surface

water submerges ground

the outward creeping puddle

the churning wake of disaster

 

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  1. As a non-swimmer, massive flooding would be my worst nightmare. It makes me nervous just reading this, prickles of dread and adrenaline. The lines that got me were “clawing the bank of deliverance” and “the churning wake of disaster.” I also liked “Who can fell these tides of anguish?” which could be a rhetorical religious question or an inwardly focused musing or both. Well done, Lana. Praying for you and your fellow Texans; I hope you are safe and out of harm’s way. 🙂

    • Thank you so much Joan for the very gracious comments. It is truly a devastating ordeal. I don’t live near the coast, we are situated in North Texas right on the border of Oklahoma where I get a double dose of Bible lessons 😀 I do have two daughters that live in Houston, but they were not flooded. They were fortunate and we are ever so grateful!

  2. You capture the tragedy with such powerful images, Lana. I can see the water everywhere in your words. My heart goes out to those who are losing everything.

  3. Haunting capture of the hurricane’s aftermath, Lana. Glad you’re far enough away to avoid the flood waters; glad, too, your daughters are staying dry! Enjoy your Labor Day!

    • Such devastation….it is really hard to watch. I’m so happy that my girls were safe in all that, I am always after them to take off, but they don’t listen, but then again, I understand, they have homes, animals, etc. Thank you so much, happy Labor Day to you also, Debbie!

  4. Glad you and your family are all right, Lana. It’s such a traumatic time for those affected by this hurricane. A wonderful poem to share at this time… Take care.

  5. Lana, such a horrendous occasion captured with great physicality and the waters are gushing and gurgling throughout your poem reinforcing this tragedy. My thoughts are with all the thousands affected…whilst the news organisations go away I realise the real job of re-building homes and lives only starts.

        • Thank you, Annika. Yes, it has been very frightening, and of course, I tried to get them to leave before it hit. I was on pins and needles, and with all that flooding, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Hope you are having a good week. xoxo

  6. Hi Lana, I know how you’ve been, you and your fellow Texan citizens! It was sad to see reality struck before our very own eyes – nature defeating us so badly. The way we love and adore nature lovingly, the battle is hard. I hope you and your family are safe. Lovely poem!

    • Thank you so much, Juli. It was so sad to see so many people devastated by these hurricanes. My family was very fortunate and we are so grateful. Hope you are having a good week.

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